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Markazhi

Gloriosa superba ,Menthonni,

Gloriosa

gloriosa superba

gloriosa superba


My grandma used to take us to the near by temple pond when we were too young.smearing herb extracted  coconut oil on pate and face, some times all over the body. we  would  cross the patch of rice fields where herons had  fixed themselves in the fields and we would  search for kannilunni or the condensed or semi frozen rain water around new grass roots.When we pass along the thickets grandma used to collect twigs of hibiscus plant for herbal shampoo and we see the bright coloured flowers with wrinkled petals  on the thickets where the sunlight falls directly upon it..When we  try to pluck them

gloriosa superba

gloriosa superba


grandma warned us awfully“They are mad flowers’”.We felt a bit desperate because  there was  something mysterious  or  dreamy about the flower.  Gloriossa flowers lit the hedges with flames,the flames that is red hot at the end.The flowery  flickering flames used to haunt us  with their electrified petals when we passed along hedges .. Grandma classified the  flowers into three categories , flowers fit to be used for worship such as Ixora,basil,rose,wild flowers like  ,climbing flax, or mothirakkanni [ hugonia mystax   ], velliyila flag bush or mussaenda frondosa            ,ana mad flowers” Bhranthan poovu “like gloriosa,wild turmeric flower  [ Curcuma aromatica] and Ummath [thorn apple , datura metel]. The mad flowers always remained at the back drop of child hood memories shrouded in mystery.

gloriosa superba

gloriosa superba


We may come across this creeper on the hedges or on thickets grasping with tendrils formed at the tip of the leaf.The flowers are really enchanting and strange.. we feel that butterflies flutter frantically on the thicket ..The wrinkled petals evokes a dyanamic feeling. Poet Kumaranasan might have  imagined this flower when he wrote ‘”eevalliyil ninnu chemme p0ookkal –pokunnitha parannamme.

gloriosa superba

gloriosa superba


When the bud opens the pale green  bud starts to grow downwards.As the petals get lengthened, they start to wrinkle and gradually arch backward.The bud itself is a perfect design of harmony.the stamens are extremely prominent and spread outward in graceful curves.

gloriosa superba

gloriosa superba


They appear as the antennae of the butterfly. The colour of the petals vary from green to light green,then to yellow. Yellow to orange at last to crimson…colours vary as the flower gets older.

gloriosa superba

gloriosa superba


Later the  plant appeared in the pre degree botany test. I sketched the picture of gloriosa leaf on the record book placing an x ray sheet under the page.The leaf tip of gloriosa elongate into a slender tendril that coils around the near by  support to get grip. The teacher presented it as an alein species of some other planet!

gloriosa superba

gloriosa superba


We call this strange lilly in different ways,.climbing lilly,creepy lilly,glory lilly,and tigers claw .The plant has been a  a source of medicine right from the ancient time.

gloriosa ,menthonni

gloriosa ,menthonni


The plant, scientifically known as gloriosa superba is significient in the field of traditional medicine.The tuber of the plant is used to heal the bruises ,chronic ulcers,sprains,colic,cancer,and impotence.Some beleive that it bears some magical properties.The  plant contains mainly two alchaloids Clochisine and gloriosine. Clochisine   is responsible for for the toxicity.

gloriosa ,menthonni

gloriosa ,menthonni


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